“I was so fortunate to have such a dedicated group of lay leaders to walk with me on my journey as Board Chair.”

Fred Heyman is the outgoing Chair of the Na’aleh Board. While leadership comes naturally to Fred—having served on many committees and Board Chair of Johns Hopkins Hillel and Capital Camps his time with Na’aleh presented a new kind of challenge. As Chair, Fred guided Na’aleh through a significant transition: the search for a new Executive Director. It was a period that called for steady leadership, deep listening, and a commitment to the community’s future.

As Chair of the Board, what’s one lesson you’ve learned about leadership, especially during moments of change or transition?

Leaders can lead from any seat. During times of change or transition, it is important to lean on your board members for advice, guidance, and support. The Board is a board chair’s greatest asset. My personal experience as Board Chair was that the board was more than willing to help, no project was too small and no ask was too great. I was so fortunate to have such a dedicated group of lay leaders walk with me on my journey as Board Chair.

Is there a moment from your time with Na’aleh that stands out as particularly meaningful or rewarding?

Change can be hard. It can be scary. We really were entering an unknown when we were in between Executive Directors of Na’aleh. At a time of uncertainty, the Board rallied and, in fact, became even closer, committed to guiding the wonderful professional team through this transition and making sure that Na’aleh stayed true and committed to its mission and vision.

What hopes or advice do you have for Na’aleh’s future leaders?

Na’aleh cannot be in better hands with Randi Buergenthal as the new Chair. She is a seasoned lay leader who will, along with the Board, take Na’aleh to even greater heights. There is not much that she has not seen or done, but one piece of advice…lean on us.

What’s a book, quote, or leader that’s influenced your own approach to leadership?

As many know, I love quoting Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Perhaps my favorites is, “we are all summoned to the task”, which is “probably the deepest Jewish truth of all.”